Real Irish Wedding: Caroline Reilly & Eoin Hamilton

~ Real Life Wedding

There are certain situations in which you really, really don’t expect to meet the love of your life. For example; when you’re caught in a snowdrift on a snowboarding holiday to Andorra…

“Eoin and I were both placed in the same beginners group and on the second day I went off course and landed in a snowdrift,” reveals Caroline Reilly. “I couldn’t move so I waved my hands in the air and shouted for help. Eoin came to my rescue and that was when I knew he was the one for me.”

The proposal

On holiday to New York in 2010, during a trip to the Observation deck of the Rockefeller centre, Eoin got down on one knee: “He gave me a box and inside were all these stories about our life together. I followed the arrows to the end where it said, “will you marry me?” and when I looked down he was holding an engagement ring. I was shocked as I didn’t expect it but I said “yes” immediately!”

Wedding theme & venue

A castle was the obvious choice of wedding venue for this Halloween wedding and Kinnitty Castle provided the perfect atmosphere. “We decorated the castle in Halloween decorations and the chef made some amazing carved pumpkins. Other Halloween touches on the day included, invitations and mass booklets decorated with “The Nightmare Before Christmas” illustrations; a trick or treat sweet table, a “Corpse Bride” cake by Amazing Cakes, Bray; film inspired table names such as Alien and Halloween; Halloween signs, a dancing broom that moved through the banquet hall; Halloween marshmallow favours for guests, sparklers on the tables and a fireworks display afterwards.

Wedding dress

Caroline’s stunning red wedding dress wasa recreation of a dress worn by Winona Ryder in Francis Ford Coppola’s film Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It was a red period dress made by Eoin’s aunt who also made the bride’s headdress, the colourful bridesmaid dresses and matching cravats for the groomsmen.

Hiccups

During the speeches, the microphone died just as Eoin was starting his speech. Thankfully he has a loud voice and was able to recover and continue with his speech. “It actually worked out really well as it gave everyone a laugh and helped calm his nerves at the start of his speech,” says Caroline.

Favourite moment:

Caroline: “I love fireworks and we had a fireworks display by Rocket Pyro Technics as a surprise for our guests at the reception. I remember Eoin and I standing in front of all our guests watching the display, it was a clear, dry night and they were so close to the castle, and thinking it was amazing!”